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Monday, August 17, 2015

How's it going everybody? Welcome to this week's Raw preview article. It's the go-home show to the annual SummerSlam event. Tonight's Raw takes place from the home of "The Beast" Brock Lesnar, Minneapolis, Minnesota. For the first time since the Raw after WWE Battleground, both the Undertaker and Brock Lesnar will be in the same ring in the same arena. Last week we went from three matches to now eight matches on the SummerSlam card. I'll give you five things I'm paying attention to when it comes go-home show for SummerSlam and then after that I'll be giving my predictions for the PPV. Let's do this.

1.) John Cena/Seth Rollins Title vs. Title/ Face to Face

Rollins has been doing a tremendous job building up this storyline with the absence of John Cena. Rollins as a heel champion gets better week by week which I think will play into Rollins favor once he loses the WWE Championship. Rollins had two WWE World Heavyweight Championship matches on the past two Raw's and he defeated Neville and thanks to Orton he survived Sheamus attempt at cashing in the Money in the Bank Briefcase. On Tough Enough last week Cena said that despite Triple H's expertise at odds making, he says that, he's ready to go and he'll accept Rollins challenge for SummerSlam. Cena was hosting the Today show if i'm not mistaken and I have this feeling Cena will be on Raw in Minneapolis tonight or we'll have a actual LIVE Via Satellite segment? Usually before big PPV's you have a good idea as to who will win based off of who stands over set rival on the Raw before PPV. If the Satellite segment does happen I can see Cena winning, if Cena comes to Raw and goes after Rollins and tries to seek some revenge then I see Rollins winning. Tonight is a big night for Rollins. Rollins has done the comedy shitck to bring in heat into his promos, but tonight is important for Rollins to take this match seriously and tell the people why you are the future and that your just not going to be every other guy on the roster who has a championship and then the moment you fight John Cena you lose the title. With a nice curveball would be interesting if Cena fought on Raw and he loses the United States Championship to either Cesaro or Owens. It kills two birds with one stone. You get out of this whacky scenairo with either Rollins or Cena having both the WWE and US Championship and putting the US Title on Cesaro or Owens will add major heat and interest into the Cesaro & Kevin Owens match at SummerSlam.

2.) Family vs. Family

You can tell that your in a microwave society when people say that Ambrose & Reigns vs. Wyatt Family at SummerSlam is a Raw or SmackDown main event match when directly 15 months ago before The Shield broke up people were perplexed that we didn't get a actual Wyatt Family & Shield feud. I get it Rollins is not in the mix and neither is Rowan, but you're going to tell me right now that this match won't steal the show on Sunday? With the bevy of Roman Reigns haters that are still out there the guy continues to put on stellar PPV matches and doesn't have the Cena esque characteristic that everybody brings up when it comes to Reigns. The Big Dog has the bad ass persona and he's just him and then of course you have Ambrose. What I like about this storyline is not only the fact we'll be getting a massive war in Brooklyn, but at the same time during these backstage segments with Reigns & Ambrose you sense a little bit of tension with both former Shield members. Luke Harper has had alot of time to shine inside the ring with both guys since Harper rejoin the family at Battleground. We know the history of The Wyatts and Reigns & Ambrose, but what happens if Reigns & Ambrose losses again. Ambrose has been in a major slump this year and when will he reach his boiling point and snap. Reigns still trying avenge Wyatt getting in his head would a lose to his arch rival bring out a different side to Reigns? Tonight on Raw I think we'll see Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt. Hopefully they announce tonight that this match at SummerSlam will be a Brooklyn Street Fight.

3.) The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar

Both The Beast and The Deadman will be back on Raw which means ALL HELL IS GOING TO BREAK LOOSE. We know we're going to get another epic promo from Paul Heyman, but the question I have is. Is this match going to be just a regular wrestling match after that brawl we saw a few weeks ago? I expect to see all the WWE Superstars and Security guys out there in case we do have a brawl, but this storyline NEEDS TO CLOSE OUT THE SHOW TONIGHT. I'm already hooked for this match I'm just going to sit back and see what they have for us tonight.

4.) Sheamus vs. Randy Orton? NXT?

This match is happening at SummerSlam right? I think we'll probably see both Sheamus & Randy Orton on Miz TV tonight. NXT Takeover is this Saturday and usually before these massive specials we get some type of NXT pressence on Raw. Let me pose this question to the good people reading this piece. Who from NXT would you like to see on tonight's edition of Raw?

5.) Raw Matches

- Neville vs. Stardust

- Randy Orton vs. Rusev

- The New Day vs. Lucha Dragons

- Team PCB vs. Team Bad

- John Cena & Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins & Kevin Owens

- Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt

- Ryback vs. King Barrett

SummerSlam Predictions

- The New Day def. Lucha Dragons, Los Matadores and Prime Time Players to win the WWE Tag Team Championship

- Team Bella def. Team PCB and Team BAD

- Randy Orton def. Sheamus

- Cesaro def. Kevin Owens by Countout

- Neville & Stephen Amell def. Stardust & King Barrett

- Ryback def. The Miz & Big Show to retain the IC Championship

- Wyatt Family def. Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose

- Seth Rollins def. John Cena to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

- The Undertaker def. Brock Lesnar

I hope you guys enjoyed this piece, Raw and SummerSlam.

Make sure to check out my SummerSlam preview show this Wednesday from 11am-3pm ET on ChicagoLandSportsRadio.com

Monday, August 10, 2015

Welcome to this week's WWE Monday Night Raw preview. Tonight's show takes place from Seattle, Washington expect a rowdy crowd. We're 13 days away from the 28th annual SummerSlam PPV from Brooklyn, New York. I thought last week's show was pretty solid. Of course we got a amazing Paul Heyman promo, but last week was great when it came to in-ring action. Hopefully we'll get some announcements of matches tonight. Here's what you can expect on tonight's show from Seattle, Washington.

1.) Stephen Amell comes to Raw

I've been very busy for the past 6 months and I've heard about the show Arrow and yea even though it's a show from CW! I always heard good things about the show Arrow and the stars of the show Stephen Amell. Amell has admitt to be a big wrestling fan and has attended numerous WWE shows over the years. It was a rumor that the WWE was interested in having Amell in a match with WWE Superstar Stardust. It looks like it could be possibility now as Amell will be a special guest for tonight's Raw. To some people it may not be a big deal, but it's cool seeing a guy like Stardust get a spotlight on tonight's show. In Michael Cole's interview with Stardust on WWE.com Stardust continues to play games and he's looking forward to his interaction with the Arrow. I don't know if the guys will get physical with each other, but if they do don't be surprise to see Amell gives Stardust a dropkick. Also this could lead to Amell being in the corner of Neville as Stardust takes on Neville at SummerSlam.

2.) Will John Cena's Respond?

Seth Rollins killed it on Raw last week and to those people who say that Rollins isn't worthy of being a main eventer or a World Champion you're just ignorant. Rollins promo on breaking Cena's nose was excellent and also bringing the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Open Challenge to Raw was a nice touch. Actually that's not a bad idea to do that again tonight and maybe someone from NXT takes the challenge or maybe Cesaro. We're two weeks away from SummerSlam and while it seems like 100% confirmed that Rollins would take on Cena at SummerSlam, but can we atleast make that announcement tonight? John Cena will be a special guest on Tough Enough tomorrow and he's already at the performance center they should have a pre-recorded promo from Cena to accept the challenge.

3.) Brock Lesnar & The Undertaker Program

For those still questioning the logic behind this program watch this promo. I know that Brock & Taker will not be on this show tonight and that's fine because I think the guys in the mid-card, the divas and the other feuds have made these Raw's have been enjoyable. Would like to see Heyman on the show tonight I think his promo can help a show with no Cena, Taker or Lesnar in the building. It's also time for either Heyman bring up that Taker has never defeated The Beast or Undertaker cut on his epic promo vignette's.

4.) Will Rusev fight at SummerSlam?

We've seen countless brawls with Lana and Summer Rae and Lana has cost Rusev a bevy amount of matches over the last three weeks. Something has to give here and one of the major things I'm personally paying attention to for Raw tonight is this program because is Rusev fighting at SummerSlam? Are we getting Lana vs. Summer Rae? I think for tonight we'll see the return of the showoff Dolph Ziggler.

Monday, August 3, 2015

Welcome to this week's Raw preview article brought to you by Condo On The Moon. My name is Joshua Lopez and I'm the host of the Pro Wrestling Experience and I do TV Show Reports for Between The Ropes. Obviously it hasn't been the best time to be a wrestling fan over the past two months and surprisngly it has nothing to do with the product it has to do with the recent passings of Roddy Piper and Dusty Rhodes. Whether I'm writing a piece or doing a radio show my goal is to make someone's day better as a fan of wrestling and at the same time promote the good and history of the business instead of tearing it down. With that tonight's Raw is from the home of where Suplex City began. That's right the WWE is back in San Jose, California at the SAP Center (which is a great arena with good seats and AIR CONDITIONING) and watch out Michael Cole as Brock Lesnar will be back to the program. We're three weeks away from the 28th annual SummerSlam PPV and I will talk about what happen on last week's WWE Programming and what new matches can be made for SummerSlam in fact I will actually lay out a demo card for your liking and also I'll give you my thoughts on the passing of Roddy Piper.

Roddy Piper:

I wasn't born in the 1970's or 80's I'm a 90's kid and I really didn't get a full grasp of who Rowdy Roddy Piper was until I was like maybe 10 years old and I was starting full studying of the business. I always saw Piper on video packages and etc and the first time I saw Piper on TV was two occassions. The first one was of course when he got inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and the great Piper's Pit Segment with Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 21. The second one was on the Legends of Wrestling Roundtable program that used to be on WWE Classics On Demand. What's their to say that hasn't already been said? Piper is the personification of what a true villan in pro wrestling is supposed to be. Piper was the man and doing my research over the years Piper did alot of amazing things that go under the radar at times especially his stuff in Portland and his feud with Greg Valentine in the NWA in the early 80's. If there wasn't Piper in 85 there's no WrestleMania and with the rate the territories were going at that time I'm not sure if wrestling would still be here. Piper was a mainstream from the business and had a underrated career outside the ring in the movies and of course when he was in on the TV Show Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I love Piper's Mania matches with Bret Hart, Adonis and Goldust. Piper's run in WCW was really good from the standpoint that he reinvented himself in way when he was feuding with the nWo in the way he was cutting his promos. Obviously being born in this generation of wrestling I always enjoyed Piper's sproadic appearances on WWE programming and there's two moments that I always remember from the Piper we saw in today's wrestling. The first one was the segment with Piper and Cena where Piper was trying to bring out the inner anger in Cena and then second one is Old School Raw in 2014 where he closes off Raw with my personal favorite wrestler CM Punk who Piper was a major influence on Punk. Piper had a charm to him and what's more important that even though he went through alot in the wrestling business he always tried to find a way to be happy and be the best father out there. I send my colodences to the Toombs family and Roddy will be missed. I loved the guy I think to me he will always be the gold standard of what a true heel is and it's unfortunate that he was decided to be taken away from us that young. Love u Piper! Thank you for everything you've done for the business and setting example for what a good man and father is and you will never be forgotten even if your out of Bubblegum high above.

1.) John Cena vs. Seth Rollins at SummerSlam?

The John Cena/Seth Rollins US Championship Match from last week's Raw was great. Cena broke his nose and continue to fight on for another 6-7 minutes and you have to give it up to a guy like that no matter how you feel about his subjective character. A couple weeks ago I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this program because obviously it's ironic that Cena is going back for the title when the ratings haven't been earth shattering. Rollins has gone through Reigns, Ambrose, Orton, and survived Brock and still is the WWE World Heavyweight Champion and for him to go all through that and then just lose like nothing in first encounter with Cena since last year's TLC would be a major spit in a face to everything this guy has done in the past year. With that being said and just going off what i've seen in the past couple of WWE shows is that Rollins getting a win against Cena on a big stage like SummerSlam would be a major rocket booster to a title reign which I already thought it was going really good. Cena could win the title and I wouldn't been surprised or upset because he's realy had a stellar year this year when it comes to matches and his promos have been good, so Cena hasn't had a bad feud this year. With Cena nose being shattern your not going to see Cena in the ring which is unfortunate because I would have love seeing some US Open Challenges before SummerSlam and now it looks like it will be champion vs. champion at SummerSlam. I'm sure Rollins will start the show and brag about Cena nose being broken and that Cena is not entitled to another World Title Match and he's not here, so Rollins is moving on. If Rollins was to wrestle tonight I think he would fight either Roman Reigns or Cesaro. It would be interesting to see if Cena would have a cut pre-recorded promo towards Rollins, but we'll see what happens.

2.) The Beast is Back

Brock Lesnar is back on tonight's show and I'm really looking forward to that. We've all seen Heyman cut amazing promo's especially the ones before WrestleMania 30. There's always been one stat that I don't know why someone like Heyman would continue to overlook and not bring up. That stat is the fact that The Undertaker has never beated Brock Lesnar. I'm sure Heyman will cut a cool promo tonight and then it would be distrupted by Undertaker in a cool Taker esque video package if Taker is not at Raw tonight that's just a idea we haven't seen that in a while. I would also like to know if this will be a fight or another wrestling match like at Mania 30. This match NEEDS a stipulation to it. The fans in Brooklyn will boo the match out of the building if it's just another wrestling match with 20 suplexes. This is one of the major things I'm paying attention to for tonight's show especially coming off that amazing pull apart a couple weeks ago.

3.) Steve Austin Podcast with Paige + Divas Revolution

Tonight after RAW is the return of the infamous Stone Cold Podcast on the WWE Network with special guest former Divas Champion and Tough Enough Coach the beautiful Paige. I'm really looking forward to this. Obviously for me I know about Paige's upbrining with her legendary Knight family, but I'm also interested in learning more things about her and what type of question Austin would have for her since he has admitted over the past couple weeks on his podcast that he hasn't been watching the product due to his crazy schedule with filming the next Broken Skull Challenge season. Will Austin bring up AJ Lee? What's Austin thoughts on the Diva uprising in the WWE and will Austin ask Paige about her experience on Tough Enough this season. I love Paige, so it will be alot of fun covering this podcast tonight. As far as tonight is concern I think we would see Nikki Bella vs. Becky Lynch then later on that night we'll see Paige & Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks & Naomi.

I hope you guys enjoyed this week's Raw preview. It will be nice to see the WWE pay some type of tribute to Piper on tonight's show. It's going to be a good night to honor a legend and enjoy some good wrestling.

You can follow me on Twitter it's @JoshLopezCSR

Check out my radio show this Wednesday the Pro Wrestling Experience from 11am-2pm ET on Chicagolandsportsradio.com